UAE emphasis on strategic foresight engenders citizens’ trust: Forbes

ABU DHABI, 27th April, 2015 (WAM) -- Trust is generally one of the world’s scarcest commodities, according to global PR firm Edelman’s 2015 annual "Trust Barometer", which says that given the state of the world today, perhaps it’s no surprise that governments the world over are seen as largely untrustworthy, with governments, corporations, NGOs and institutions of all kinds being held in lower repute today than at any time in the 13 years Edelman has been probing who, and what, commands the trust of citizens and consumers. So, according to Paul Laudicina, Forbes contributor, in an article published this weekend, what might come as a surprise is which governments are bucking this trend, and by wide margins. The report reveals that the country most trusted by its citizens is the United Arab Emirates. In an article entitled, "Where ‘trusted government’ is not an oxymoron", published on forbes.com, Laudicina describes the UAE as an oasis of stability, modernity, diversity and tolerance, comparing it in size, population, and growth trajectory, to Singapore, which also has a government that ranks among the most trusted. As a frequent visitor to the UAE, Laudicina, the author of numerous articles and books and a speaker on economic issues, says that he has had a bird’s eye opportunity over the years to observe the UAE’s dramatic transformation. So its ranking at the top of the Edelman trust league table is no surprise to him. "What is it about the UAE and Singaporean governments and their leaders that engender trust among their people?" he asks. "In my view, it’s all about authentic vision and consistent execution. True, small jurisdictions with tight, authoritative leadership structures can be more decisive and nimble, and the UAE’s oil wealth hasn’t hurt, but the UAE is in an admittedly troubled neighborhood, and Singapore never had any natural resources. The answers lie elsewhere." He explains that while the United States struggles with gridlock politics, citizens react by turning away from government as a problem-solving tool. Similar reactions in other politically disjointed economies make understanding the UAE and Singapore strategies all the more important as case studies for restoring trust in other countries as well. He says that one doesn’t need to go back too far in history to see how far the countries have come, how fast, and how many problems they’ve had to overcome. As recently as the 1950s, feuding among the Gulf state’s tribes and the drop off in the important pearl trading industry damaged citizens’ morale and deprived them of a valuable source of income. "To say the region lacked a cohesive narrative vision – a clear compelling national direction – is an understatement." Describing the run-up to the forging of the nation in 1971, Laudicina talks about the transformation beginning in earnest with the serious production of Gulf oil in the late 1960s. "Rather than just living well off its oil wealth," he says, "The UAE began, and has continued, to plan for an ambitious post-oil future. Beginning in the 1970s, the Emirates embarked on a reform agenda to remake the country through investments in development and financial transformation, including tourism and logistics infrastructure." He continues, "Thanks to the country’s emphasis on long-term planning, Dubai today has become a major financial centre in the region and one of the world’s largest trade hubs. The UAE’s clear, compelling vision statement "we want to be among the best countries in the world by 2021", the Golden Jubilee year of the Union is built on tangible pillars of success. Behind this ambitious mission, the country’s leadership has delivered in areas of critical importance to its citizens, investing in smart technologies, transforming K-12 education, encouraging the growth of high-value added sectors through dedicated economic zones, and making investments into healthcare infrastructure, to name just a few of its recent achievements." Laudicina’s comparison of the UAE with Singapore shows how the countries have charted a similar course since the 1960s, although from opposite sides of the spectrum. Where the UAE was busy planning for an ambitious post-oil future, Singapore, in 1965, was an island city-state without any natural resources of its own and ranked among the poorest countries in the world. It faced the scars left by the remnants of strife between Malays and ethnic Chinese, and beyond the will of its people, had few clear competitive advantages. Most threatening to the fledgling country’s security was its reliance on Malaysia for fresh water. In just a few decades, the country was able to capitalise on its diversity and overcome its water issues by investing heavily in sustainable water technology from diverse sources. Lee Kuan Yew, the recently-deceased founding Prime Minister, envisioned a future for Singapore as an economic powerhouse, and focused on setting up the strong institutional foundations necessary for this success, including a world-class educational system, strong rule of law, and a business-friendly market environment. He backed up his vision with credentials, leading Singapore to boast an average annual growth rate of 6.8% from 1976 through 2014. "At the core of both countries’ success, is visionary leadership carried out with determination," Laudicina says, "But lofty vision, even with committed intention, will not breed success unless it is executed well as Thomas Edison once said, "Vision without execution is hallucination." And what the leaders of the UAE and Singapore have done exceedingly well has been to recognise their countries’ competitive advantages and create measurable, targeted plans albeit ambitious ones centred on these advantages. In the UAE, this has meant using natural resources as the bedrock for GDP growth, and moving to diversify the economy from there. For Singapore, this meant the creation of a highly skilled workforce, which today makes it one of the most competitive brain-powered economies in the world. Both governments consistently take the risks necessary to convert ideas into action." The forbes.com article concludes with the assertion that both the UAE’s and Singapore’s emphasis on strategic foresight has allowed these countries to envision a future that reaches beyond the conventional and established norm, and, equally as important, their leaderships’ ability to translate this message for their audiences has naturally engendered citizens’ trust. "Behind such clear, compelling visions supported by credible and tangible execution - and success - trust must naturally follow." – Emirates News Agency, WAM – http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395279731430.html